By R.L. Bynum
Former Tar Heels saw mixed results after last week’s season openers. St. John’s guard Ian Jackson scored 17 points in 20 minutes in a blowout win, while Michigan guard Elliot Cadeau struggled against the team the Wolverines beat for the national championship in April.
Cadeau scored eight points on 3-of-11 shooting (1-of-5 on 3-pointers) with five turnovers and five fouls in 28 minutes as No. 4 UConn beat No. 16 Michigan 85–77 in Boston on Friday.
Michigan won the title game 69–63, with Cadeau scoring a game-high 19 points and earning the Final Four’s most outstanding player award.
Jackson went 7-of-12 from the floor (3-of-8 on 3-pointers) as St. John’s beat Iona 104–65 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. He is averaging 16.0 points through two games.
Seth Trimble scored 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 24 minutes as No. 11 Louisville beat Morehead State 107–57 on Saturday.
Ven-Allen Lubin had a quieter night in N.C. State’s 77–63 win over ETSU on Friday, finishing with five points on 2-of-4 shooting, five rebounds, three assists and four turnovers in 26 minutes. He is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 83.3% from the floor for the 2–0 Wolfpack.
Elsewhere on the men’s side:
— Jonathan Powell scored six points in Pittsburgh’s 80–61 win over Buffalo on Thursday, then had 13 points and five steals in an 82–76 win over Penn State at The Palestra on Sunday for the 3–0 Panthers.
— Will Shaver scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds in Samford’s 88–79 loss at UNLV on Saturday.
— Zayden High scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting in South Florida’s 82–80 loss at DePaul on Thursday.
— Derek Dixon had nine points, five assists and two steals in No. 5 Arizona’s 104–84 win over Cal Poly.
— James Brown scored 12 points in Howard’s 94–83 win at Alcorn State.
— Luka Bogavac scored eight points off the bench in Oklahoma State’s 118–68 win over Queens.
— Kyan Evans scored eight points in Minnesota’s 76–62 win over St. Thomas.
— Ivan Matlekovic has yet to play for 2–0 Pacific.
On the women’s side:
— Lanie Grant hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in No. 15 TCU’s 96–41 win over Le Moyne on Thursday. She scored 14 on 5-of-7 shooting (3-of-5 on 3-pointers) in an 89–42 win over Tarleton State on Sunday and is shooting 42.1% on 3-pointers for the 3–0 Horned Frogs.
— Taliyah Henderson scored 10 points with three steals in Clemson’s 76–57 win over ETSU, then went 6-of-6 at the free-throw line in a 72–44 win over UNCG. The 3–0 Tigers host No. 1 South Carolina at 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN2).
— Elina Aarnisalo had 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in No. 11 UCLA’s 78–42 win over UC Irvine.
— RyLee Grays made her season debut with four points and three rebounds in Tulsa’s 67–40 win over Rogers State.
— Liza Astakhova did not play in BYU’s wins over Portland and Montana after seeing limited action in the Cougars’ opener.
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Men’s players
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 0 starts, 11.0 points, 8–16 FG, 4–10 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Friday — Oklahoma State 118, Queens 68 (home) | didn’t start: 16 minutes, 8 points, 3–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 assists, 1 steal, +31
Thursday — 8 p.m. at Texas A&M, SECN+
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 11.5 points, 62.5 FG%, 0–2 3P, 37.5 FT%, 6.0 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Record — 1–1
Thursday — Howard 94, Alcorn State 83 (road) | started: 23 minutes, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls
Monday — 6 p.m. at Penn
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 7.5 points, 4–16 FG, 1–9 3FG, 6–9 FT, 1.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 5.0 turnovers, 2.0 steals
Record — 1–1
Friday — No. 4 UConn 84, No. 16 Michigan 77 (in Boston) | started: 28 minutes, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 fouls, 5 turnovers, -10
Wednesday — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Marquette, FS1
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Record — 1–1
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 13.5 points, 36.5 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 4–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 turnovers, 3 steals
Thursday — No. 5 Arizona 104, Cal Poly 84 (home) | started: 30:04, 9 points, 4–8 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, 1 foul, +28
Tuesday — 9 p.m. vs. Northern Arizona, ESPN+
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.6 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 6.0 points, 4–18 FG, 2–9 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 turnover, 1.5 steals
Friday — Minnesota 76, St. Thomas 62 (home) | started: 30 minutes, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 steal, +6
Monday — 7 p.m. at Cincinnati, ESPN+
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 15.5 points, 65.0 FG%, 2–4 3FG, 3–5 FT, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist
Record — 1–1
Thursday — DePaul 82, South Florida 80 (road) | started: 24 minutes, 11 points, 4–5 FG, 1–1 3FG, 2–3 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Wednesday — 3 p.m. vs. Saint Joseph’s in Annapolis, Md., CBS Sports Network
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 16.0 points, 54.2 FG%, 46.2 3P%, 2.5 rebounds
Record — 2–0
Sunday — St. John’s 104, Iona 65 (Madison Square Garden) | started: 20:10, 17 points, 7–12 FG, 3–8 3FG, 3 rebounds, +20
Wednesday — 7 p.m. vs. Colgate at Carnesecca Arena, Peacock
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 12.5 points, 83.3 FG%, 4–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 turnovers
Friday — N.C. State 77, ETSU 63 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 5 points, 2–4 FG, 1–2 3FG, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, -1
Tuesday — 7 p.m. vs. Presbyterian, ACC Network Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Record — 2–0 (he didn’t play in either game)
Saturday — Pacific 63, Bradley 52 (road) | didn’t play
Wednesday — 10 p.m. at Long Beach State, ESPN+
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.4 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 12.2 points, 39.4 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 1–5 FT, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assist, 1.7 turnovers, 2.0 assists
Record — 3–0
Thursday — Pittsburgh 80, Buffalo 61 (home) | started: 39 minutes, 6 points, 2–9 FG, 2–9 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 steal
Sunday — Pittsburgh 82, Penn State 76 (at The Palestra in Philadelphia) | started: 40 minutes, 13 points, 5–15 FG, 2–7 3FG, 1–3 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assist, 1 turnover, 5 steals
Friday — 6:30 at Butler, Peacock
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Record — 1–1
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 15.5 points, 65 FG%, 3–5 3FG, 2–4 FT, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.5 blocks
Saturday — UNLV 88, Samford 79 (road) | started: 25:35, 14 points, 6–10 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–4 FT, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, -8
Friday — 8 p.m. vs. Wright State, ESPN+
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Record — 2–0
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 12.0 points, 45.0 FG%, 22.2 3P%, 44.4 FT%, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 turnovers, 1.5 steals
Saturday — No. 11 Louisville 107, Morehead State 57 (home) | started: 24 minutes, 11 points, 5–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals
Sunday, Nov. 15 — 1 p.m. at Memphis, ESPN
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
Women’s players
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.8 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Season statistics — 2 games, 2 starts, 11.5 points, 42.8 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 2–2 FT, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.0 turnovers
Record — 2–0
Thursday — No. 11 UCLA 78, UC Irvine 42 | started: 26 minutes, 14 points, 5–12 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers, 1 steal, 2 fouls
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Arizona
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Season statistics — 1 game, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5 rebounds
Record — 3–0
Thursday — BYU 74, Portland 64 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — BYU 97, Montana 53 (home) | didn’t play
Wednesday — 4 p.m. vs. Bethune-Cookman
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 12.3 points, 52.2 FG%, 42.1 3P%, 5–6 FT, 1.0 rebound, 3.3 assists
Record — 3–0
Thursday — No. 15 TCU 96, Le Moyne 41 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 3–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul
Sunday — No. 15 TCU 89, Tarleton 42 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 14 points, 5–7 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 1 steal
Tuesday — 5 p.m. vs. Iona, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Record: 1–1
Saturday (season debut) — Tulsa 67, Rogers State 40 (home) | 8 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers,
Thursday — 6 p.m. vs. No. 22 Oklahoma State, ESPNU
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 0 starts, 344 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 21 steals, 1 block
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 starts, 11.3 points, 40.7 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 8–10 FT, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 2.0 steals
Record — 3–0
Thursday — Clemson 76, ETSU 57 | started: 36:46, 10 points, 4–8 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 steals, 1 foul
Sunday — Clemson 72, UNCG 44 | started: 20:17, 9 points, 1–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 6–6 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 3 turnovers
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. No. 1 South Carolina, ESPN2
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via redstormsports.com
